In Memoriam: Meryle Kay Michael

Monday, March 3 2014

MERYLE KAY MICHAEL
March 8, 1941 - February 25, 2014
Meryle
Kay "Mert" Michael (72) passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday,
February 25th after a nineteen year battle with cancer.
Mert's life
was full of joy, happiness and many blessings. She lived a full life and
enjoyed family, fun, friends and her Catholic faith. She would have
celebrated her 73rd birthday on March 8th.
She was the second of four
girls born in Boise to Thomas and Marjorie Kurdy. She and her sister
Carol were born before the 2nd World War and her two younger sisters
after the war as her father was gone for almost 5 years serving his
country in the South Pacific during WW II. She was a proud member of the
"Kurdy Clan" growing up. She attended Whittier, Jefferson, South Junior
High , Boise High for 1 year and a member of the first graduating class
of Borah High School in 1959. Her lifelong friends were Boise kids and
she loved being an Idaho native.
After high school, she attended the
University of Idaho and became a pledge and member of Pi Beta Phi
sorority. She loved college, especially the social life. She attended
her 50th class reunion last year at the University with her pledge class
sisters.
Mert was proud to be a "second generation" Vandal along
with her father, uncles, aunts and numerous cousins. She especially
showed her dedication and loyalty when she agreed to be the "First Lady"
for the University of Idaho during the year Gary voluntarily served as
President. She is due to be honored on April 10 with the Jim Lyle Award
for her outstanding contributions to the University and alumni through
volunteerism.
She met her future husband, Gary, at Idaho and they
were married on December 28, 1961 at Sacred Heart Church in Boise. Gary
entered the US Army upon his graduation in 1962. They lived in New York from 1962 - 1964, the only time in her life she did not live in Idaho.
In
1964, they moved back to Boise where their first son, Glenn, was born
followed by JP in 1967 and Todd in 1969. She was an outstanding mother
to the boys and one of Boise's greatest volunteers. Her many activities
included volunteering for: the ARC; Boise Art Museum; Cub Scouts; Fundsy
(chairing the auction in 1988); McCall Memorial Hospital; Boise School
Volunteers; Saint Alphonsus Festival of Trees (chairing the event in
1987); the YMCA as Treasurer and Board Member and participated in the
search that brought Jim Everett to Boise.
In 1985, she received the
Boise School District Golden Apple Award for her hours of dedication. In
1990, Saint Alphonsus honored her as the Distinguished Citizen of the
Year and recently she accepted the Sustainer of the Year award from the
Junior League of Boise for her community service.
Her home was
always open to anyone and was a favorite hangout for the kids and their
friends. She was always happiest at home and the family cabin in McCall.
She loved dinner parties, cocktail hour and Bridge. She was a great
storyteller who could really embellish and add to any story to make it
more interesting!
Her faith and attending church were central to her
life as was her marriage and her influence on her children and
grandchildren.
Survived by her husband Gary of 52 years; son Glenn
(Tina) and their children Chris, Scott and Andrew; son Jonathan (Linda)
and their children Jack, TJ, Jed and Mia; son Todd (Leslie) and their
children Grace and Harrison; her sisters Carol (Warren) Hawley, Ann
(Stan) Holton and Kathy Goldsmith and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins
and many special friends, especially Elaine Atkins.
The family would
like to express special thanks to Dr. Stephanie Hodson, nurse Jan and
the entire crew at St. Alphonsus Cancer Care Center. Thanks to Dr. Tim
Sawyer, a very special caring physician who gave us great guidance. We
want to acknowledge Dr. Michael Maier for his long time care. Also thank
you to St. Luke's Hospice Care and BrightStar who provided outstanding
care during her final days.
She was special to every person and
thing she touched. She will be greatly missed and we have been very
lucky and blessed to have shared our lives with her.
A vigil service
will be held at 7:00 p.m., Friday, Feb 28, at the Alden-Waggoner
Funeral Chapel, 5400 Fairview Ave. A funeral mass will be celebrated at
10:00 a.m., Saturday, March 1, at St. John's Cathedral with The Rev.
Henry Carmona as Celebrant. Burial will follow at Dry Creek Cemetery. -
See more at:
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/idahostatesman/obituary.aspx?n=meryle-kay-michael&pid=169875287&fhid=6414#sthash.NqC6xnR8.dpuf

Meryle Kay "Mert" Michael (72) passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, Feb. 25 after a 19-year battle with cancer.

Mert's life was full of joy, happiness and many blessings. She lived a full life and enjoyed family, fun, friends and her Catholic faith. She would have celebrated her 73rd birthday on March 8.

She was the second of four girls born in Boise to Thomas and Marjorie Kurdy. She and her sister Carol were born before the 2nd World War and her two younger sisters after the war as her father was gone for almost five years serving his country in the South Pacific during WW II. She was a proud member of the "Kurdy Clan" growing up. She attended Whittier, Jefferson, South Junior High , Boise High for 1 year and a member of the first graduating class of Borah High School in 1959. Her lifelong friends were Boise kids and she loved being an Idaho native.

After high school, she attended the University of Idaho and became a pledge and member of Pi Beta Phi sorority. She loved college, especially the social life. She attended her 50th class reunion last year at the University with her pledge class sisters.

Mert was proud to be a "second generation" Vandal along with her father, uncles, aunts and numerous cousins. She especially showed her dedication and loyalty when she agreed to be the "First Lady" for the University of Idaho during the year Gary voluntarily served as President. She is due to be honored on April 10 with the Jim Lyle Award for her outstanding contributions to the University and alumni through volunteerism.
She met her future husband, Gary, at Idaho and they were married on December 28, 1961 at Sacred Heart Church in Boise. Gary entered the US Army upon his graduation in 1962. They lived in New York from 1962 - 1964, the only time in her life she did not live in Idaho.

In 1964, they moved back to Boise where their first son, Glenn, was born followed by JP in 1967 and Todd in 1969. She was an outstanding mother to the boys and one of Boise's greatest volunteers. Her many activities included volunteering for: the ARC; Boise Art Museum; Cub Scouts; Fundsy (chairing the auction in 1988); McCall Memorial Hospital; Boise School Volunteers; Saint Alphonsus Festival of Trees (chairing the event in 1987); the YMCA as Treasurer and Board Member and participated in the search that brought Jim Everett to Boise.

In 1985, she received the Boise School District Golden Apple Award for her hours of dedication. In 1990, Saint Alphonsus honored her as the Distinguished Citizen of the Year and recently she accepted the Sustainer of the Year award from the Junior League of Boise for her community service.

Her home was always open to anyone and was a favorite hangout for the kids and their friends. She was always happiest at home and the family cabin in McCall. She loved dinner parties, cocktail hour and Bridge. She was a great storyteller who could really embellish and add to any story to make it more interesting!
Her faith and attending church were central to her life as was her marriage and her influence on her children and grandchildren.

Survived by her husband Gary of 52 years; son Glenn (Tina) and their children Chris, Scott and Andrew; son Jonathan (Linda) and their children Jack, TJ, Jed and Mia; son Todd (Leslie) and their children Grace and Harrison; her sisters Carol (Warren) Hawley, Ann (Stan) Holton and Kathy Goldsmith and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and many special friends, especially Elaine Atkins.

The family would like to express special thanks to Dr. Stephanie Hodson, nurse Jan and the entire crew at St. Alphonsus Cancer Care Center. Thanks to Dr. Tim Sawyer, a very special caring physician who gave us great guidance. We want to acknowledge Dr. Michael Maier for his long time care. Also thank you to St. Luke's Hospice Care and BrightStar who provided outstanding care during her final days.
She was special to every person and thing she touched. She will be greatly missed and we have been very lucky and blessed to have shared our lives with her.